Lauren Anderson, from Amax Entertainment dressed as a Vegas showgirl, is seen during the Pretend City's 4th Annual Poker Fundraising Night.

Lauren Anderson, from Amax Entertainment dressed as a Vegas showgirl; Todd Tripp, board member and event chair; and Bill H. Lyon, president and CEO of William Lyon Homes; pose during the Pretend City's 4th Annual Poker Fundraising Night in Newport Beach on May 30.

Jill Bertea, VP First American Title Company; Hirad Emadi, president and CEO of Integrated Construction Solutions; Sandra Bolton, executive director; and Bill H. Lyon, president and CEO of William Lyon Homes; pose during the Pretend City's 4th Annual Poker Fundraising Night in Newport Beach on May 30.

Hirad Emadi, president and CEO of Integrated Construction Solutions, plays poker along with other VIP players during the Pretend City's 4th Annual Poker Fundraising Night.

A player looks at his cards during the Pretend City's 4th Annual Poker Fundraising Night in Newport Beach.

When it comes to fundraising, Pretend City Museum knows how to get the job done: cards and free drinks.

Guests of the fourth annual Poker Tournament fundraiser at the Big Canyon Country Club indulged in pretend vices while supporting Pretend City.

Before the tournament began, a lucky few followed a red carpet for a VIP reception.

The guests were mostly men who suited up for the occasion, and a few women who clearly held their own in the boys’ club as they all socialized in the lounge amidst large windows offering an incredible view of the green.

Around 7 p.m., the tournament was under way. Players ordered drinks and made jokes while they chased straights, bet high on cowboys, and hoped the river wouldn’t ruin their hand.

A poker tournament might sound unusual for a children’s museum fund-raiser, but the games got people conversing while thinking about the task at hand, funding Pretend City, a small-scale town with a farm, police station, post office and more where children “play” everyday life.

At the core of Pretend City lies the concept of play, where children learn by interacting with the world around them.

“We learn innately though the process of play,” said senior director of education LindaHunter. “Play is how a child’s brain develops, and kids don’t have that today.”

“It’s important that kids have a free environment to cultivate creativity and understanding of our world,” said Jill Bertea, secretary of the board. “Most importantly, they’re learning and they don’t even know it!”